Awa Odori is a 400-year-old Obon dance festival that transforms Tokushima city for four nights every August. Groups called 'ren' — comprising drummers, shamisen players, flautists and dancers — parade through designated routes performing the distinctive two-step Awa dance. The famous chant 'the dancing fool and the watching fool are both fools, so you might as well dance!' perfectly captures the joyous, inclusive atmosphere.
- Type
- Festival
- Category
- Matsuri
- Season
- Summer
- Month
- Mid-August (12–15 August)
- Region
- Shikoku
- Prefecture
- Tokushima
- City
- Tokushima
Highlights
- ◆Over 100,000 performers in 1,000+ dance groups
- ◆Traditional Awa dance learnable at free public 'niwaka ren' groups
- ◆Live hayashi music with shamisen, taiko and fue flute
- ◆Illuminated evening processions along multiple street stages
- ◆Awa Odori Kaikan museum open year-round for demonstrations